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Sunday, 4 August 2013

TAITTRIYA UPANISHAD: EXHORTATION FOR RIGHT LIVING

[Vedasare
the most ancient literary monuments of the human race. The subject of the
Vedas is Supreme Knowledge; that is, Knowledge of the Eternal Reality behind
the ever changing objective world of men and matter. Vedas have no authorship (apurusheya).
Vedas were revealed to the Sages or Seers during the depth of their
mediatation. Upanishadsare the most important parts of, and
contain the quintessence of, the Vedas.

Taittriya
Upanishadforms part of
theTaittriya Aranyakaof theKrishna Yajur Veda.
It is divided into three parts starting withSiksha Valli. The special
feature of the Siksha Valli is that it contains the most beautiful and pithy
address to the youth leaving theGurukula.
This is analogous to the convocation address of the present-day
universities.]

Never
swerve from the study of the Vedas. [स्वाध्यायात् मा प्रमदः ] After offering the teacher the desired
wealth[आचार्याय प्रियं धनम् आहृत्य ] [at the close of the studentship and remaining in family life] do not
cut off the line of offsprings [children]. [प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः ]Never swerve fromSatya. [सत्यात् न प्रमदितव्यम् ]Never swervefromDharma. [धर्मात् न प्रमदितव्यम् ]Never swerve from what is beneficial. [कुशलात न प्रमदितव्यम् ]Never swerve from prosperity. [भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् ]Never swerve from learning and
teaching. [स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् ] [1.11.1]

If there should arise in you any doubt as regards any action [कर्म] or
conduct [वृत्त ], then you should act in those matters as do the wise men there, who are impartial in, experienced, independent, kind at heart [not harsh] and devoted to Dharma.